After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 40

Suddenly, a clear and pleasant female singing voice came from afar. The voice seemed to have traveled through thousands of mountains and rivers, with the purity and gracefulness of a mountain spring, and like the brightest stars in the night sky, making people yearn for it. Yu Sance was immersed in the intrigues of the officialdom. This sudden singing voice was like a clear spring, suddenly pouring into his heart, making him involuntarily stunned and standing there.

The singing seemed to have some kind of magic power, which made him look in the direction of the sound. However, he only saw flames in the front yard and screams that were deafening. The sound was full of fear and despair, as if the gate of hell was suddenly pushed open, releasing endless pain and darkness. Yu Sance was startled and came to his senses. He saw a cold and bloody long sword quietly across his neck. The tip of the sword flashed, and the cold light reflected on his face, like the sickle of the god of death, which could take his life at any time.

Yu Sance was horrified and his mind went blank. He stared with his eyes wide open, trying to see the sudden change, but all he could see was a blur. What on earth had happened? Where did these people in blood-stained clothes come from? How could there be such a terrifying armed force under the feet of the emperor in the capital? Are they members of the Tiandihui or believers of the Tianlijiao? A series of questions surged into his mind like a tide, making him feel unprecedented panic and fear.

His legs went limp, and he slumped down on the armchair, as if all the strength in his body had been drained away. As a veteran in the officialdom, Yu Sance had experienced countless ups and downs, but at this moment, facing this sudden change, he felt unprecedented powerlessness and despair.

He suppressed the shock in his heart, forced a bitter smile on his old face, and tried to defuse the crisis with words: "My dear friends, what brings you to my house tonight? Harmony brings wealth. If you have anything to say, we can sit down and talk slowly. Why bother with swords?" There was a slight tremor in his voice, but he still tried to stay calm.

However, he was met with silence. A burly man with a stern face came forward and dragged him down from the armchair, dragging him from the backyard to the front yard like a dead dog. Yu Sance was thrown in front of a woman. He looked up and saw that the cruel leader was actually a pretty girl. She was wearing a tight-fitting dress and holding a long sword. She looked heroic and her eyebrows revealed a heroic spirit that should not be underestimated.

Yu Sance was surprised and puzzled. He was about to show off his authority and scold Li Qingge, but when he saw the bodies lying behind him, they were all the guards he had hired, but now they were all killed like grass. He was so scared that his face turned pale and his body instantly went limp, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Li Qingge stood on a high place, looking at him teasingly, with a sneer on her lips: "I am the leader, and it was me who burned down Baixiang Tower. Haven't you always wanted to kill me? Come on!" Her voice was crisp and pleasant, but it carried a murderous aura that could not be ignored.

Yu Sance's voice trembled: "Lady...lady, let's talk it over nicely...why do you have to shout and kill..." He tried to ease the atmosphere with words, but he knew in his heart that this crisis might not be easily resolved.

Li Qingge said bluntly: "Lord Yu is a straightforward person, so I won't waste words. Hand over all your property, especially the money you have embezzled during your years as an official. Hand it all over." Her voice was cold and firm, as if it could not be questioned.

An uprising requires huge financial support. Without money, how can we feed the army? How can we overthrow the feudal system? Li Qingge knew this very well, so she decided to rob the corrupt officials and their money to quickly expand herself. Her eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if she could see through Yu Sance's heart.

Yu Sance's heart trembled, he knew that this crisis was inevitable. He took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Okay, I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you!" He knew that as long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. Although the money is gone, he can squeeze more from the people in the future. If his life is gone, then everything is over.

"Lady, please follow me!" Yu Sance said. He suppressed his fear and unwillingness and took Li Qingge to the vault where the silver was hidden. The vault was located deep inside the official residence, surrounded by numerous traps and guards. However, at this moment, those guards had already been killed by Li Qingge's men, and the traps had been cracked one by one.

Arriving at the storehouse, Yu Sance happily opened the secret room. Inside the secret room, jewels and antiques piled up like mountains, shining with precious light, dazzling people. Those jewels and antiques were all obtained by Yu Sance through years of corruption and bribery, and plundering the people's blood and sweat. At this moment, they were like waste paper, and were easily taken away by Li Qingge and others.

Li Qingge was stunned. In her previous life, she had seen pictures of ancient corrupt officials with boxes full of gold and silver on TV, and she thought it was a bit exaggerated. Now seeing the piles of stolen goods in front of her, she truly understood that art comes from life. Those jewels and antiques were shining with an alluring light, as if telling their origins and stories.

"What a fat-headed worm! You really deserve the second-rank official hat and feather on your head." Li Qingge sneered. She roughly estimated that these properties were at least ten times that of Zhang Mama, a full million. This did not include the money he spent on buying official positions, making friends, and squandering. During the Qianlong period, corrupt officials were rampant, and this was absolutely true.

Yu Sance looked at Li Qingge's cold eyes and couldn't help but tremble in his heart. He knew that this woman was not only skilled in martial arts, but also determined and determined. She was definitely not an ordinary person. He tried to ease the atmosphere with words: "Lady, these properties are all due to my momentary greed. I am willing to give them all to you, just ask you to spare my life."

However, Li Qingge was unmoved. She looked at Yu Sance coldly, as if she could see through his heart: "Is that all? Do you have anything else? I have already found out your ability to make money. If you have hidden something else, hand it over as soon as possible. Otherwise, if we find it, I will make you live a life worse than death."

Yu Sance's panicked look was caught by Li Qingge. He quickly said, "It's all here, there's nothing else." However, his lie could not be hidden from Li Qingge's eyes. She sneered and said, "Don't cry until you see the coffin. Shi Shuyu, cut off a few of his fingers first."

Upon hearing this, Shi Shuyu swung the blood sword in his hand and instantly cut off the five fingers of Yu Sance's left hand. Yu Sance screamed like a pig being slaughtered, and painfully covered his bleeding left hand with his right hand. His face was full of fear and despair, as if he had seen the coming of the god of death.

Li Qingge sneered, "If you don't confess, the five fingers of your right hand will be broken. You civil servants make a living with your pen, and I want to see how you can be an official in the future if you can't write with your right hand." Her voice was cold and firm, as if there was no room for doubt.

Yu Sance was really scared. He was usually very manipulative in the officialdom, but had he ever seen such a scene? The girl in front of him used force instead of words. In this case, no matter how many schemes he made, it would be useless. He knew that he could no longer hide it.

"Speak now, this is your last chance." Li Qingge said coldly. Her eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if she could see through Yu Sance's heart. Yu Sance walked to the candlestick opposite with trembling hands, and turned it slightly, and a hidden secret room suddenly appeared. Li Qingge walked in and saw that the gold collection inside was several times more than what she had just seen. The gold was shining with an alluring light, as if telling of its value.

Antiques in prosperous times, gold in troubled times. Although the Qianlong period was nominally the peak of the Kangxi and Qianlong prosperity, the officialdom was extremely corrupt and turbulent. Yu Sance, the old fox, knew that gold, as a hard currency for trade, had a much higher collection value than jewelry, antiques and silver. Therefore, he hid the gold in such a secret place.

Li Qingge looked at the gold and felt an indescribable anger and sorrow in her heart. The gold was the hard-earned money of the people, but it was squandered and greedily taken by these corrupt officials. She decided to use the money to seek welfare for the suffering people and overthrow this corrupt feudal dynasty.

After she ordered people to empty out all the money and valuables here, she glanced at Yu Sance again, as if she could see through his mind. She shouted, "Come here, drag this old man down and beat him to death with sticks, and throw his body out to feed the dogs!" Her voice was cold and firm, as if she could not question it.

Yu Sance was so frightened when he heard this. He screamed, "You, you don't keep your word..." However, his words were interrupted by Li Qingge's sneer, "I only keep my word to gentlemen, not to villains. What's more, you are a dog official like you who exploits and squeezes the people! Drag him away!"

"Witch... You must die a miserable death... You must die a miserable death..." Yu Sance shouted and cursed frantically, trying desperately to escape. However, he was dragged down and beaten to death. His body was thrown outside the door of the official residence, left to be torn apart by wild dogs.

After taking away the stolen money that Yu Sance had embezzled for many years, Li Qingge did not stay for too long. She knew that although the operation was successful, the danger still existed. Under the cover of the night, the group of people hurriedly left with hundreds of boxes on their shoulders. Their figures disappeared in the night, as if they had never appeared.

A high-ranking official of the second rank was killed in office, and all his property and the treasury silver in his official residence were robbed. When the news came out, the whole court was shocked, and Qianlong was also alarmed. He was furious and ordered a thorough investigation of the matter, and the murderer must be caught and severely punished. For a time, the capital was full of fear, and all the officials were trembling, fearing that they would become the next target.

However, this investigation was a big deal but little success. On the one hand, Li Qingge acted cleanly and left no trace, so no one could find out even if they wanted to investigate; on the other hand, the disaster in the south was serious, and the people were full of resentment, which shook the foundation of the country. Qianlong was overwhelmed and had no energy to focus on Yu Sance? He could only accept this fact helplessly and focus on more urgent issues. Li Qingge and others continued their uprising, fighting to overthrow the feudal dynasty and establish an equal and civilized society.

A few days later, an unusual scene occurred near the picturesque city of Gusu in the south, on the shore of Lake Tai. The early summer sun gently shone on the sparkling lake, and the breeze blew, bringing bursts of coolness, which complemented the tranquility of the ancient city wall not far away. The surrounding area was shaded by green trees and the sound of birds, as if nature was also paving the way for everything that was about to happen.

There was a woman in plain clothes, a light blue cotton dress that swayed gently in the wind, with a strange bronze mask on her face, half of it was a smiling tiger, with a bit of humor in its ferocity, and half of it was a crying cat, with a hint of cunning in its sorrow. She stood on a high earth slope, with an upright posture, like an unyielding pine tree, preaching to everyone those advanced ideas, such as the need to liberate the mind and the principle of equality for all. Her voice was clear and firm, with strong penetrating power, as if it could reach the deepest part of people's hearts.

At her feet, a group of refugees gathered, men and women crowded together, their clothes were tattered, some tied their pants with hemp ropes, some wrapped their feet with rags, their faces were dirty, their hair was greasy and tangled, their eyes were full of helplessness and despair, they looked like a group of beggars abandoned by life. But under the call of this woman, the light of hope gradually flickered in their eyes.

This woman is Li Qingge. She is not an ordinary person. She reveals a heroic spirit between her eyebrows. Even wearing a mask, it is difficult to hide her eyes that are as bright as stars. She did a great thing before. With wisdom and courage, she took back millions of people's money from the greedy Yu Sance. She also led the White Horse Army and the women rescued from Baixianglou all the way south to Gusu. Along the way, she experienced countless hardships and obstacles, but her faith in her heart never wavered.

Li Qingge originally wanted to use the power of a certain system to launch an uprising as soon as possible, overthrow the feudal court, and build a new society of gender equality. But who knew that the system failed at a critical moment and became a queen system, which required her to become the queen first before it could be used. This sudden change made her smile bitterly, but the fire in her heart became even more blazing. Before this, she only got some of Jiang Yuyan's cultivation, a thousand artillery pieces, and ten thousand white horse soldiers as a novice gift package. These are all her current capital.

The system was unreliable, so Li Qingge had to step forward on her own. She knew that although she was a skilled martial artist, one person's power was limited after all, and it was simply a fantasy to overthrow the entire dynasty. However, she believed that a single spark could start a prairie fire, which was the wisdom of later generations. Only by mobilizing the masses could things be accomplished. So, she decided to use her own actions to ignite the flame that would change her fate.

At that time, the south was being ravaged by heavy rains and disasters were severe. The people were suffering. The officials were just sitting there doing nothing and not thinking about flood control and disaster relief. Instead, they colluded with the rich to drive up grain prices and make dirty money. Under such circumstances, peasant uprisings sprang up one after another like mushrooms after rain, and the south was in chaos. Li Qingge saw it all and was anxious. She knew it was time to act.

Li Qingge knew that whenever there were natural disasters and man-made disasters and the people could not survive, there would always be people who stood up and rose up. However, these people were often uneducated and lacked leaders, so even if there were many of them, they would not last long and would eventually be suppressed by the court. She did not want to see such an outcome, and she did not want to let these innocent people fall into the abyss of despair again.

So, Li Qingge decided to integrate the power of the masses, and everyone worked together to eliminate the feudal and decadent system. She thought, Li Zicheng, the King of Rebellion, could overthrow the Ming Dynasty, so why couldn't she? However, she also knew that her idea was a bit naive. After all, in this era, the concept of male superiority and female inferiority was deeply rooted. Women had no independent personality at all and could only rely on men to survive. Defending the country and participating in politics were all men's business. As for women, they only had to take care of their husbands and children and take good care of the family. Even many men believed that women had long hair and little knowledge, and even if they had power, it would be difficult for them to achieve great things.

Li Qingge thought of the historical Lanling King Gao Changgong, who was brave and handsome, but worried that his appearance could not deter the enemy, so he made a green-faced and fanged mask to wear during war. So, she also imitated him and made a bronze mask to increase her deterrence. This is not just a mask, but also a symbol of her fight against feudal ethics and strive for equality.

She spoke to the crowd affectionately about a bright and harmonious world where men and women are equal and there is no exploitation or oppression. Her eyes swept over everyone one by one, as if she could see through their hearts and give them the most firm support. Her voice was like a spring breeze, moistening everyone's dry heart.

Li Qingge said slowly: "Fellow villagers, I know you are worried that your whole family will suffer if you fail. To be honest, I am afraid too. But we have no other choice. The court is unjust, and those corrupt officials eat, drink and have fun all day long, but they are unwilling to leave us any leftovers. We are also human beings, born by our parents, why can they enjoy wealth and glory, while we can't eat enough and wear warm clothes? Is it because we are not working hard enough and not motivated enough? No. When it comes to hard work, we farmers dare to admit that we are second to none."

At this point, she paused and looked at the crowd, and saw that they all looked indignant, some clenched their fists, and some gnashed their teeth, obviously touched by her words. She was happy in her heart, knowing that her words had worked.

"The reason why we live such a miserable life and have to sell our children when faced with natural disasters or man-made calamities is because those corrupt officials and the gentry have plundered our resources, deprived us of the basis for survival, and made us lose the ability to resist risks. We live worse than a dog." Li Qingge's voice gradually became louder, and her emotions became more agitated. "Those dignitaries have so much wine and meat at home that they can't finish it and it stinks, while there are people freezing to death on the streets. Look at them, and then look at us. Are you willing to let yourself and your descendants live like this for generations to come?"

Facing Li Qingge's question, everyone was silent. They bowed their heads and said nothing, with mixed feelings in their hearts. If they could choose, who wouldn't want to live a good life? But the reality was so cruel that they had to bow their heads and admit defeat.

After a long silence, a man as thin as a bamboo pole spoke: "What can I do if I don't want to?" His voice was low and weak, as if he was talking to himself.

Li Qingge glanced at him and answered calmly and forcefully: "Then rise up and resist, and take back what we lost." Her voice was firm and powerful, as if an irresistible force was pushing them forward.

At this time, another thin man came out and asked, "How do we get it back?" There was confusion and uneasiness in his eyes, and he was obviously confused about the future.

Li Qingge recognized him. He was a refugee from the next village. His name was Liu Goudan, so named because of his weak constitution. She looked at him, and an inexplicable sense of intimacy surged in her heart. She knew that although these people were poor and ignorant, they had the most simple kindness and courage. As long as they were given a chance, they could create their own miracles. "Rise up in the army," Li Qingge said, "overthrow that old emperor, redistribute the benefits, and let everyone have a house to live in and a field to farm." Her voice was full of hope and longing, as if she had already seen that beautiful future.

"How can we overthrow the people above us?" Although Liu Goudan's name is a bit vulgar, he has been educated for a few years and his thinking is higher than that of others present. His words reveal some rationality and concern.

Li Qingge said: "I can lead you to start a rebellion." Her voice was firm and confident, as if she was fully prepared.

"You..." Liu Goudan shook his head, "No." His tone revealed a bit of helplessness and sadness. He knew that in this male-dominated society, it was simply a fantasy for a woman to lead an uprising.

"Why?" Li Qingge asked back, her voice revealing a bit of dissatisfaction and anger. She knew that this question was not only a question about her, but also about the injustice and prejudice of this era.

"Because you are a woman..." Liu Goudan was interrupted by Li Qingge before he could finish his words.

"So what if you're a woman? Weren't you born of a woman? Yin cannot grow alone, and yang cannot produce life alone. Without us women, can you men survive on your own and reproduce from generation to generation? Tang Gaozong Li Zhi's wife, Wu, was also a woman, but didn't she still change dynasties and ascend the throne to become emperor?" Li Qingge's voice was passionate and powerful, as if she was speaking for all women.

She continued, "Let me tell you, there is no difference between men and women. What you men can do, we women can do, and we may even do it better. The sayings of men being superior to women and women being obedient to their parents are all nonsense made up by those moralists to restrain us women. Heaven and earth are divided into yin and yang, men are yang and women are yin. Men and women should be equal, and there is no principle that one is nobler than the other. I am a messenger sent by God, responsible for practicing the destiny of equality between men and women. From now on, whoever dares to say in front of me what women should and should not do, I will make him taste my power!"

After saying this, Li Qingge jumped up and slammed her palm on a huge rock protruding from the lake. This palm condensed all her anger and strength, as if she wanted to smash all the injustice and prejudice in this world. With a loud "bang", the rock cracked, and the broken stones splashed everywhere, stirring up a splash of water.

This palm strike was not only a display of her martial arts, but also an expression of her inner beliefs. She wanted to let everyone know that women could also stand tall and become heroes who could change the world. The people watching were all shocked and in awe of this scene. They knew that this woman wearing a bronze mask might be the leader and savior they had been waiting for.

On that ancient and vast land, Li Qingge's palm technique was like a violent storm, and each strike contained a force like a tsunami, a power that transcended the mundane world, as if the purest vitality between heaven and earth was condensed in her palm, turning into an endless edge. Her figure stretched out in the sun, her clothes fluttering, like a god of war descending to the world, and every move revealed a domineering and resoluteness that should not be underestimated.

Suddenly, a deafening roar sounded in the air, and with a "bang", it was like thunder in the sky, shaking people's minds. A huge rock instantly broke under her palm, and the fragments splashed everywhere, stirring up layers of water, like thousands of troops galloping, rushing straight into the sky, tens of feet high, as if to blur the boundary between heaven and earth. The scene was like the raging waves in the ocean, surging and boundless, making people feel awe.

Such power is definitely not possessed by humans. It is beyond everyone's imagination, as if it is divine power borrowed from the nine heavens, leaving everyone present dumbfounded and filled with incredible shock. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear and indescribable admiration, and they secretly muttered in their hearts: "If this person is not the reincarnation of a goddess, how can he have such shocking power?"

Liu Goudan's words, like a sharp knife, cut open the hidden pain in Li Qingge's heart. She knew very well that in this era of male superiority and female inferiority, the status of women was so humble that even she, wearing a majestic mask like Lanling King, could not completely change the deep-rooted prejudice of the world. The people were tightly bound by the shackles of feudal thinking and believed in ghosts and gods. Therefore, Li Qingge decided to go with the flow and use this ignorance to pave a road to light for herself.

Back then, Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, started an uprising by killing a white snake and claimed to be the son of the Red Emperor. His every move was endowed with a sacred color, and he eventually established the Han Dynasty. Wu Zetian even cleverly wove the "Dayun Sutra" and claimed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya, thus ascending to the throne and establishing the Wu Zhou Dynasty. Li Qingge secretly thought that she could also rely on her extraordinary martial arts to make the world believe that she was a goddess who had descended to earth and was the true goddess of heaven. She could use this as an opportunity to raise the banner of resistance, break the shackles of gender, and lead an unprecedented change.

So, she began to consciously shape her own mythological image, sometimes incarnating as the goddess of the nine heavens, and sometimes becoming the reincarnation of a compassionate bodhisattva. The people looked at her with awe and piety in their eyes, and that sincere belief made Li Qingge feel mixed. She knew that all this was only temporary, and when she succeeded, she would use the light of science to dispel the haze of superstition and allow everyone to freely pursue their true self.

After a long silence, Li Qingge suddenly let out a thunderous roar, which pierced through the sky and struck everyone's heart: "All men are born equal, without distinction of high or low! I vow to build a new world with equal rights for men and women and food and clothing for all. Are you willing to join me?"

"Yes!" The people's answers resounded through the sky, and their voices gathered into an unstoppable force, which was the desire for the future and the yearning for freedom.

Li Qingge looked at the group of people in front of her who were full of enthusiasm, and her heart was filled with infinite emotion. She continued to ask: "Predecessors plant trees, and future generations enjoy the shade. Are you willing to fight with me for the happiness of future generations?"

"Yes!" This time, the response was more determined and more passionate, and morale reached its peak at this moment.

Afterwards, Li Qingge carefully arranged the troops according to their gender and age. The men formed one army, which was heroic and valiant; the women were not to be outdone, forming another army, which was weak but tenacious. The elderly and children were arranged in the logistics to ensure the stability of the rear of the army.

Li Qingge's memories of her past life contained a lot of military strategies and ways of governing the army. She integrated all this knowledge and used it to train this new team. However, women are naturally weaker physically, and they have been bound to their families for a long time, so their fighting ability is naturally not as good as that of men. But Li Qingge has a firm belief in her heart, and she vows to let women hold up their own sky in this chaotic world.

At night, when the moonlight shines all over the earth, Li Qingge would gather her female compatriots to sit in a circle, and teach them the method of cultivating internal strength in a casual way. These women followed her instructions, raised their qi and exercised their internal strength, and day after day, their physiques gradually became stronger, and their strength increased day by day, and they could even compete with men.

This women's army created by Li Qingge herself later became the pioneers in the establishment of a new society and the banner of women's liberation. Their deeds inspired countless people and proved the truth that "women are as good as men."

While teaching martial arts, Li Qingge also did not forget to spread new ideas that transcended the times. Her words were like spring rain, nourishing people's dry hearts. However, these ideas were undoubtedly an earthquake for those who were accustomed to the old world, and their worldview and values ​​were completely overturned.

Li Qingge knows very well that the transformation of ideas cannot be achieved overnight. She waits patiently, believing that one day these seeds will take root in people's hearts and bloom into gorgeous flowers.

At the same time, Li Qingge had already sketched out a grand blueprint in her mind. Her first step was to occupy the fertile plains in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. She remembered Kissinger's famous saying and knew the importance of food to national stability. In this society dominated by small peasant economy, food is the lifeline of the people. Behind every peasant uprising, there is the shadow of food shortage.

The current uprisings in various parts of the south are precisely because the continuous torrential rains have caused a complete crop failure and the people are living in poverty, forcing them to take the path of resistance. China is vast and rich in resources. Among the four major grain-producing areas, the Northeast Plain is fertile, but it is difficult to use because of the cold climate and the fact that most of it is occupied by nobles; the North China Plain is good, but it has also suffered a lot from the disaster; the Sichuan Basin is known as the "Land of Abundance", but it is far away from the southeast and out of reach.

Only the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River plain, which has been a land of fish and rice since ancient times, has now fallen into a predicament due to natural disasters and man-made disasters. Li Qingge secretly calculated in her heart that if she could take this opportunity to control this grain-producing area, then her plan would be more than half successful.

Now that she had traveled to this era, Li Qingge decided to give it a try. She led everyone along the Taihu Lake waterway, cutting through thorns and heading towards the goal. However, she was not in a hurry to attack the city, because she knew that the current military strength alone was not enough to shake the overall situation.

She needed to unite the rebels scattered across the southeast and bring them together to form a force that could not be underestimated. Most of the rebels were homeless and poor people who could not make ends meet due to the soaring food prices. They were full of dissatisfaction and anger with the current situation and were the best allies.

Li Qingge has a clear plan in her mind. She knows that she needs to be cautious at every step, but she also believes that as long as there is light in her heart, the road ahead will not be dark. She, Li Qingge, will rewrite the chapter of this era with her own strength, so that the ideals of gender equality and universal food and clothing will take root in this ancient land and bloom with the most dazzling light.

In that ancient and vast land, the situation was ever-changing and turbulent. The lives of the people were like duckweed, drifting with the tide, and it was unknown when they would be overturned. In order to survive in this chaotic world, a group of us had to grit our teeth, raise the banner of uprising, and vow to fight the brutal and cruel regime to the end. Although the looted food could temporarily fill our stomachs, the fear in our hearts was always there, fearing that one day, the imperial army would come like a dark cloud and our small family would be wiped out in an instant.

At this moment of despair and hope, a name blew into everyone's heart like a spring breeze - Li Qingge. She was a woman, but she possessed extraordinary martial arts, as if she was the reincarnation of the god of war in the sky. Every time she made a move, people were amazed. Her publicity was like spring rain, which brought new life to the dry hearts. People said that she was a fairy who came to earth and a living Bodhisattva sent by God to save us. So, one by one, the people with hope in their hearts joined her. In less than a month, the team grew to more than 100,000 people, with a huge momentum that shocked the world.

Li Qingge stood on the high ground, looking at the dense crowd below, with unprecedented ambition and ambition in her heart. She knew that this was not just an increase in numbers, but also a gathering of people's hearts and a gathering of strength. She raised her arms and shouted loudly: "Brothers and sisters, a good opportunity has come, we must attack!" At that moment, her voice seemed to penetrate the sky and reach everyone's heart. The target was the prosperous Yangzhou City, which would be their first stop to change their destiny.

Yangzhou, a city with a long history, has been a wealthy place in the southeast since ancient times, with a constant stream of wealthy merchants and literati. A quarter of the Qing Dynasty's fiscal revenue came from the salt tax in Yangzhou and Huaihe River, which shows its importance. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is like a life link that closely connects the economies of the north and the south, and Yangzhou is the shining pearl on this link. However, today's Yangzhou is shrouded in a haze.

Continuous heavy rains caused a sharp drop in grain production, soaring grain prices, and famine. The people who lost their homes were like rootless duckweed, drifting in the vast sea of ​​people. They knew that Yangzhou was the center of grain transportation and the only hope, so they traveled a long distance and endured hardships to come to the outskirts of Yangzhou, waiting for the court's rescue.

However, the relief food from the imperial court has not arrived yet. There are more and more refugees outside the city, crying out in hunger. The soldiers and civilians in the city are also in a panic, fearing that one day these hungry refugees will break through the city walls and pour into the city, causing an uncontrollable disaster. It is said that last night, some refugees took advantage of the darkness to sneak up and try to open the city gates to let the refugees in. Fortunately, the soldiers guarding the city discovered them in time and beheaded them as a warning to the public, which barely maintained order in the city.

Emperor Qianlong was also worried about the situation in Yangzhou. He specially sent the leading military minister Fu Heng to provide disaster relief. Fu Heng was the younger brother of the late queen. Qianlong relied on Fu Heng because he missed the queen. However, even an important minister like Fu Heng was helpless in the face of Yangzhou's predicament. While people outside the city were mourning, the rice shops inside the city were booming. The big salt merchants saw the flood and thought it was a business opportunity. They spent a lot of money to buy large quantities of grain and hoarded them.

As a result, grain appeared in all the rice shops in the city, but the price was ten or even dozens of times higher than the original price. This was undoubtedly a double blow to the poor people. They could not live without grain for three meals a day, but now even the most basic food and clothing has become a luxury. In order to survive, they had to sell their children and daughters, and exchange the pain of separation for temporary survival.

In this disaster year, selling children was common. The price of girls was much higher than that of boys. Firstly, girls eat less, so it is more cost-effective to buy girls when food is scarce; secondly, in this chaotic world, the fate of girls is often more tragic, and being bought by a kind family may give them a chance to survive. However, those boys who were sold may face a more cruel fate, being used as slaves, coolies, or even being sent to the battlefield and becoming victims of war.

Li Qingge stood on the high ground, looking at all this, with endless grief and indignation in her heart. She knew that only by overthrowing this corrupt regime could the people live a truly good life. She took a deep breath and shouted to the soldiers below: "Brothers and sisters, we are fighting for survival, for our families! The food in Yangzhou City is our life-saving straw, we must attack and take back the food that belongs to us!"

Following Li Qingge's order, the rebels surged towards Yangzhou City like a tide. They were filled with yearning for a better life and a desire for freedom. They knew that this battle was not only for food, but also for their future and destiny. The defenders in Yangzhou City could not help but feel fear when they saw the mighty rebels. They knew that this battle would determine their survival.

A fierce battle unfolded outside Yangzhou City. Amidst the flashing swords and bloody storm, Li Qingge led the rebels to fight bravely and unstoppably. Her martial arts were extraordinary, and every move was as fast as lightning, which frightened the enemy. Under her leadership, the morale of the rebels was high and they were unstoppable.

Finally, after a desperate fight, the rebels broke through the gate of Yangzhou City and poured into the city. They took back their own food, dignity and freedom. At that moment, they seemed to see the light of hope for the future, burning in their hearts.

Li Qingge also proved her strength and leadership in this battle. She is not only a woman, but also a brave and fearless warrior and leader. She tells the world with her actions that women can also stand tall and make a place of their own in this chaotic world.

The battle of Yangzhou City became a turning point for the uprising army. From here, they gradually strengthened their strength and headed for a wider world. And Li Qingge's name, like a legend, was widely spread among the people and became a hero and idol in people's hearts.

(End of this chapter)